This Portfolio takes us on an unforgettable journey across the Mediterranean. From the Tuscan hillsides to the plains of Andalusia, from the cobbled streets of Athens to the shores of the Aegean, reaching the coasts of Asia Minor and the minarets of Istanbul, then passing through Palestine and Israel, without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Lesvos. We will discover the secrets of the olive tree, a symbol of life and spirit of peace in these Mediterranean regions since thousands of years. Our modern-day Odyssey takes us to beautiful towns and picturesque villages where ancient sites witness unforgettable rituals, all of which are linked in some way or other to the olive tree, to its culture and its trade. These celebrations represent the essence of its history and way of life and capture the beautiful allure of the Mediterranean Dream. At every stage along this journey, we will look for best olive oils, delicious recipes and unknown details of the Mediterranean diet. But the films will also cover agronomical, ecological and spiritual aspects. And we will bear in mind the symbolic value of the olive branch and the mythology behind it. The narrative of each film is build around a universal theme related to the olive culture and trade, brought to life by passionate characters whose everyday lives we will share and whose fabulous stories we will discover. For the very first time these regions and themes explored are knit together (in full HD) to create a comprehensive mosaic: the Olive Route, rich in detail, colourful in scope and astonishing in meaning. It is not simply a geographical path, but a bridge connecting people socially and passionately, beyond all races, beliefs and origins: it carves out the surprising heritage they have in common, the Olive Route creates a Med identity.`

With close to 300 million trees, Spains Southern province of Andalusia is the worlds uncontested Olive Kingdom. It is here that more olive oil is produced than anywhere else in the world... It is here that tons of waste from olive oil production are turned into electricity... It is here that you can gain a university degree in olive culture... The list of superlatives seems never ending. This time, the Olive Route will reveal to us the secrets of a phenomenally successful olivegrowing industry. We shall meet the Nuñez de Prado brothers, whose family have been growing olives for seven generations as well Antonio Romero, a worker on an olive farm, for whom the Andalusian olive groves are a paradise on earth. We will see how Periko Ortega of Cordoba, a young Andalusian Chef with a reputation reaching as far as Australia, turns cooking with olive oil into an art form . And with José Gomez, a globally renowned scientist, we will see the dangers that olive monoculture poses for soil erosion, thus demonstrating that economic success often comes at a price. In this sea of olive trees we will also take a trip to the largest olive mill in the world as well as to the most modern biomass power station in Europe. And in Cieza, near Malaga, we will meet Pedro Ramos, a civil guard who in his spare time has become the world champion in olive-stone spitting. Fabulous olive stories about each of the characters in a land where the olive tree is said to be in the DNA of its people.

A strong desire for independence is at the heart of Sicilys identity. Like the olive tree, which for centuries has been the king of the islands agriculture. At the start to the 20th century, the Sicilians were under the rule of bandits, specialists in the business of protection who originally provided protection for olive growers during harvest time. When faced with the more invasive violence of the Mafia, the Sicilians were too intimidated to react and too afraid to rebel. Change only came in 1992, with the assassinations of the Palermo magistrates Falcone and Borsellino: they had been the symbol of the fight against the Mafia. These murders constituted a breaking point for the Sicilians. They understood that the Mafia was a curse from which they must rid themselves. With some of the key players in the revival of Sicily, we will witness the changes which have been unfolding for several years. Il dottore Spatola, an olive oil taster, as well as the Gioia family, traditional Sicilian landowners, and the Vincenzo family who are practicing agro-tourism: they all will share with us their passionate belief in a new Sicily. Not forgetting Salvatore Gibiino, a member of the Libera Terra cooperative, an NGO that husbands land reclaimed from Mafia bosses reviving the olive and wine groves, producing organic crops. Visits to the Mafia capital Corleone as well as to the dilapidated districts of Palermo and to the rituals of the Day of the Dead at Valledolmo will remind us that the olive tree here in Sicily was witness to the birth of the Mafia and is observing its decline today.

The Olive Route takes us this time across the high Aegean seas to Lesvos, in the Eastern Mediterranean. This Greek island with its beautiful houses and colourful streets will serve as the backdrop to the Greek part of our story. From there we cross to the shores of Anatolia to the region of Ayvalik, one of the picturesque centres of todays Turkish olive growing areas. Through the prism of olive trees, we shall take a close look at the notions of land, territory and historical roots in this region with a tumultuous past. In 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk rebuilt modern Turkey on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, the Treaty of Lausanne ordered that all Muslims of Turkish decent who were living in Greece be exchanged with any Greek Christians living in Asia Minor. This population exchange of nearly two million people has left deep traces, many of which are still perceptible today. Fortunately one thing soothed the resulting pain and resentment: both Greeks and Turks had been growing olive trees since the olden days, providing a main source of survival and wealth. They lost their homes, but found new olive groves offering the livelihoods they needed. We relive this period through the eyes of two modern families: the Kiniklis on the Greek side and the Kursats on the Turkish one. Both families have suffered in different ways since the loss of their home in the 20s... And we will have a look at what it means for them today, when olive trees seem to remain loyal to men and their earth, regardless of their religion, of their wealth or of the flag that flies above them.

On the Olive Route, well make a stopover in the Middle East, in a part of the Mediterranean that is often referred to as the Holy Land. Of course, a visit to Jerusalem is called for, with the districts of the old town and the emblematic religious sites: the Wailing Wall, the Stations of the Cross and the Dome of the Rock. The olive tree is referred to as a sacred tree in each of the holy texts: the Torah, the Bible and the Koran. Only in Jerusalem and its surrounding area do the three monotheistic religions meet in such a poignant way. In Al-Walaji, eight kilometres from Jerusalem, well meet Salah, a Palestinian Muslim, who is the guardian of a 5000 year old olive tree, now at risk due to the construction of the Separation Barrier. In Bethlehem, we will meet Johnny Handel, an Arab Christian and carpenter working with olive wood. In the North of Jerusalem in the Talmon colony, Chezky Betzalel, a Jewish settler will open to us the door of his house and olive grove. Finally, close to Bethlehem again we will meet a Palestinian Christian, Daoud, whose olive grove is now surrounded by six colonies and his family threatened by eviction. Helped by the Rabbi Arik Asherman, Daoud tries to make the extremists understand that his intentions are just and peaceful. Meeting passionate olive growers in the Holy Land will help us understand that here the olive tree symbolises a powerful connection to the lans, that planting as well as uprooting or destroying an olive tree is a political act. It is as if the olive tree here has become a hostage, a weapon, and nothing could be further from the one of peace that it plays in the sacred writings of the three religions.

Beyond the romantic images of olive groves, the Olive Route cannot ignore the commercial war between Italy and Spain, the duel for the leadership of the global market, estimated at a worth of billions. Together, they control 70% of the worlds olive markets. This leads us to the Olive Industry, a normally impenetrable universe, closed to the eyes of the general public. It is crammed with secrets linked to laboratories, publicity campaigns and marketing strategies. And with enormous financial stakes. The two leaders in each of Spain (Carbonell) and Italy (Mataluni), as well as the two haut-de-gamme-artisans, will personify for us this gigantic Duel... In the world of upmarket luxury organic oil, the Italians have long been masters of the game, as we will see with Oliviero Toscani. But the Spanish, as LA Organic shows, are catching up. And in the world of the mass market, Alberto Gallardo, the Spanish Marketing Director of Carbonnel, and Biagio Mataluni, grandson of the Italian founder of family company Mataluni, will guide us in the discovery of this white collar universe: no more farming labour, machines and computers dominate production. Visiting their factories in Montesarchio and Cordoba, we will see how, in a few short hours, tons of olive oil are bottled, labelled and crated, ready to be shipped to supermarkets in all four corners of the world. Along this path, we will discover that this war of giants is likely to be shattered soon by emerging new rivals: Turkey, China, Brazil, Australia... All of these have decided to participate in the booming, now global, olive market. And, by moving further and further from the Mediterranean, we are left wondering if the olive culture might lose what makes it so special?